The City of Montreal will require thousands of municipal employees to work in the office at least three days a week beginning Sept. 14, a shift officials say is meant to boost collaboration and better align with evolving workplace norms.
A spokesperson for the City says the administration is adjusting its hybrid work model to require more in-office presence for eligible employees, as part of a broader trend across public and private sectors.
More than 70 per cent of municipal employees already work fully in person, with telework applying to less than 30 per cent of staff. Currently, eligible employees must be on-site at least two days per week (and three days for managers), but that minimum will increase to three days per week for all eligible staff beginning Sept. 14, 2026.
The City says the change aims to strengthen collaboration, innovation and connections, both among colleagues and with residents, while reflecting the realities of public service work. Officials also point to broader labour trends, as governments and major employers move toward increased in-office attendance.
The decision comes as negotiations continue with the Syndicat des fonctionnaires municipaux de Montréal, which has criticized the policy. The City says it will not comment publicly on ongoing negotiations.
Montreal’s approach aligns with other jurisdictions: Quebec public servants are already required to be in the office three days a week, while federal workers will soon be expected on-site at least four days weekly, with executives full time.
